Number 4

I mentioned to the hairdresser tonight that I am pregnant with my fourth child. Her immediate response was "Why do you want to have four children?" What a strange question. 

I told her "God gives them and I love them, duh." (ok, I didn't know how to say "duh" in Azeri, but I wanted to.)

Any woman who has been blessed with a surprise pregnancy or any woman who has tried unsuccessfully to carry a baby to term realizes that we are not in charge of the miracle of life. It's simply not in our hands. 

A good friend of mine gave me an icon of the Theotokos and Jesus this week, and it has continually reminded me that the call of every mother is the same as that of the Theotokos. God gives and we say "yes." Every human is an icon of God, no less this tiny little icon in my womb. Yes, God, Thank You!!!

(The following excerpt is taken from http://www.roca.org/OA/155-156/155h.htm)

"We must be careful, however, not to over-emphasize this whole business of having children, having a certain number, etc. Saint John Chrysostom says, "Giving birth to children is a matter of nature. Far more important is the parents' task of educating their children's hearts in virtue and piety." Indeed, this puts the emphasis back where it belongs, rather than on negative things about birth control and family size. For what the Church wants us to understand and remember is that the children we bring into the world do not belong to us; they belong to God. We did not give them life; rather, God, using us as His instruments, called them into existence. In a certain way, we parents are really only babysitters for God's children. And so our greatest responsibility as parents is to bring up our children "in the Lord," so that they come to know, love, and serve their Heavenly Father."

Comments

[Shaista K. Jawed]

Well said and well written..... Mostly people do not understand this but this is the fact that we are care taker of our children and God will provide them food, shelter, education and etc. I hope you'll have smooth pregnancy this time Insha'Allah.